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The 2025 Canadian University Rowing Championships (CUs) kick off this weekend in Montreal, Quebec. In 2024, UBC won every heavyweight event on their way to the overall banner – but Brock finished only 6 points behind on the strength of their lightweight program and 3rd place in the men’s eight. Let’s take a look at some of the key contenders across the men’s events as UBC seeks to extend their title streak.
Men’s Eight
Despite the close result at Western Canadian University Championships (WCURCs) a few weeks ago, I am going to confidently place a bet on the University of British Columbia (UBC) here. They have a very public resolve never to lose CUs again. Their stern four recently placed third in championship fours at Head of the Charles, which is a solid marker that they’re doing the right things, and will be aiming for an eighth straight victory.
Close at their heels will be the frequent usher to their groom – University of Victoria. They will turn the tables one day. I just don’t think it’ll be 2025. Chasing both of these two will be the University of Western Ontario and Brock University, with Western likely to repeat their feat from last weekend at the Ontario University Championships (OUAs) as well as Head of the Trent and Brock Invitational. Brock has established themselves as the firm second-place from the east, but Queen’s University and McGill University have been trading punches this season and even the minor A-Final placings have a big impact on the final banner points.
Men’s Small Boats
The wonderful side to small boat predictions is (1) few people will hold you to them due to the lottery-like nature of picking them, and (2) they can come from smaller programmes with sparser talent pools. The University of Toronto and the University of McGill have each demonstrated their ability to field competent small boat movers in the past. However, only a fool bets against those with the climate advantage, who can spend more time out of big boats. I expect to see a lot of UBC and UVic in the medal positions.
In the men’s pair, watch for Liam Smit and Adrian Breen of UBC, the most decorated pair in terms of national team experience. From the east, Edison Luke and Markus Maile of McGill won the OUA title – the school’s first men’s victory in siz years – just over a second ahead of Adam Griesbach and Aidan Hembruff of Western. The biggest spoiler may just be University of Calgary‘s pair who will be looking for the first men’s CUs medal in program history – featuring Angus Robertson and Albert Harkema, who just won the Club men’s four at HOCR (and Harkema won the senior pair at Canadian Henley this year).
In the men’s single, Charles Etienne-Tabet of Brock won the OUA title (adding to his many accolades including 2-time OUA Male Rower of the Year) just ahead of Oliver Baker of Western – both have national team appearances this year. Owen Bartel of UBC should be the top contender from the west.
Men’s Lightweight Events
This is where the west loses its grip on collegiate men’s rowing – I think these will fall between Queen’s University, Western and Brock. Over the past few weeks, they’ve had a good time trading blows at Head of the Trent, Guelph Invitational and OUAs – where all three finished within one second. With the biggest boat class being the coxed four, I think this will come down to some degree of prioritisation from coaches, with the CUs experience of Scott Feddery at Queen’s and Volker Nolte at Western giving them a tactical edge. Queen’s (racing as Kingston) beat UBC’s crew by 4.5 seconds at Head of the Charles – if the lineups stay the same, UBC also has a shot at a medal in Montreal.
Leo Biancanello of Queen’s took a confident win in the lightweight single at OUAs, which should put him in good competition with Gianni DiPompeo of UVic and Jack Harris of UBC who had a great battle at WCURCs. DiPompeo is the most experienced and decorated of the three, including a huge medal haul from his past CUs appearances along with U23 World Championships and FISU experiences, so he gets my nod for winner.
In the lightweight double, Brock (Jonas Masys and Riley Watson) won the OUA title about 5 seconds ahead of Queen’s (Jackson Schwandt and James Cuff), with Toronto claiming the last podium spot. But they will all face fearsome competition from DiPompeo and Oliver Howard-Batek of UVic who won the WCURCs title 6 seconds ahead of UBC’s Henry Sowle and Peter Scaccabarozzi.
